Read the full story in Environmental Factor.
Successful public health programs tend to rely on people adopting certain behaviors. In a country like the United States, these behaviors may include simple handwashing or obtaining timely cancer screenings. In low-and-middle-income countries, the behavior may involve using a different type of cookstove to reduce smoke inhalation. In all cases, the changes improve general health status.
Identifying barriers to adoption of these behaviors and finding strategies to overcome those barriers is the work of implementation scientists. The field also studies how to scale-up evidence-based interventions to have the greatest impact on public health.
